A Burmese monk
or bhikkhu - which means a mendicant - on the daily alms-round.
The practice of collecting alms food is a discipline practice
by the ordained Sangha, that is monks and nuns in all Theravadin
countries. The daily alms-round was practiced by the Buddha
and is continued to this day as a means of making merit,
by developing generosity, by lay Buddhist and for the material
support of the Sangha. The monks set out each day
at first light with their alms-bowls and wander silently
through the village or town collecting the food for the
day. On returning to the monastery they will share the food
and usually eat communally finishing their meal - for some
monks their only meal - before miday.

Along with Sri
Lanka and Thailand, Burma, recently renamed Myanmar, is
a major stronghold of Theravada Buddhism. The earliest written
evidence of Theravada in the country is some inscriptions
in Pali dating from about the 5th century AD. In later centuries
though, Mahayana and Tantra became popular, although the
scandalous behaviour of the Aris, the Tantric priesthood,
eventually led to the discrediting and finally the disappearance
of Tantric Buddhism. In the 11th century AD King Anawrahta
(1044-77), converted to Theravada and within two centuries
this form of Buddhism became predominant. This conversion
of the whole country was helped to a great degree by the
flood of monks and books from Sri Lanka.

The Shwedagon Pagoda,
Rangoon.

The British annexed
lower Burma in the 1820s and finally took over the whole country
in 1885 although intense opposition to them, meant that Christian
missionaries were unable to make much headway. At independence
in 1948 Buddhism once again began to receive state support and
today about 89% of all Burmese are Buddhists. In the late 19th
century there was a great religious revival in the country, and
in this century the teachings of two Burmese masters, Mahasi Sayadaw
and U Ba Khin, a layman, have become very influential in the West.

Above two Burmese female
devotees pour water over an image of the Buddha at the Shwedagon
pagoda in Rangoon. This custom is seen as another way of paying
respect to the person of the Buddha himself.

As Buddhism is a religion
without a God, it might be asked who do Buddhist pray to? Or do
they pray at all? The answer is that most Buddhist pray, but they
are praying to the Buddha within themselves. They believe that
the enlightened nature of the Buddha is their own real nature
which they have not yet been able to reach. So when they pray,
it is to that deepest part of themselves. In all Buddhist countries
the temples are always open, and many people go in during the
day. They bring flowers for the Buddha statue or light a candle
to show their love and respect. Usually they bow to show gratitude
for the Buddha's teachings. Sometime they offer rice or light
an incense stick. These are ways of honouring the Buddha.